* * *

In front of Lucian’s unheard-of confession of love, Etienne beamed like the sun, dazzlingly bright, painfully radiant, and impossibly beautiful.

“Puhaha… Your Grace, you’re drunk. Ahaha…”

The laughter didn’t come from the joy or excitement of being confessed to.

It was more akin to the laughter of someone hearing a funny joke or a humorous remark.

Etienne simply found it amusing.

The idea of a cold, sculpted handsome man, whispering that he loved him in a low, husky voice.

If he had been sober, he might have reacted differently, but the heavily drunk Etienne could only giggle.

“Can you see? I’ve got goosebumps.”

The heavy, sincere confession, once again, lost its way and dispersed meaninglessly.

“That you, of all people, would say ‘I love you,’ puhaha…”

Etienne said with a silly smile.

Such an affectionate confession did not suit a cold, harshly handsome man.

The thought of checking Lucian’s expression after hearing that didn’t even cross Etienne’s mind, clouded by alcohol.

Playing with Lucian’s hand with a goofy grin, Etienne soon let go and reached for the liquor glass.

The whiskey, which had initially tasted bitter, became more and more delightful with each sip, making him crave it even more.

However, as his vision blurred from the drunkenness, Etienne couldn’t distinguish objects clearly.

So when he lifted a glass without thinking, what he picked up was Lucian’s glass, not his own.

Lucian, lost in complicated thoughts stirred by Etienne’s carefree yet piercing words, also realized this a moment too late.

“Etienne, wait. That’s…”

Before he could stop him, Etienne had already tipped the glass and gulped down the unadulterated, strong whiskey.

“Cough, cough!”

Immediately, Etienne’s mouth erupted in a series of harsh coughs.

It was only natural.

Just moments ago, he had been drinking whiskey with sugar and lemon.

As he swallowed the drink, a burning pain flared at the back of his throat.

It was a scorching agony incomparable to the diluted whiskey he had been drinking.

Having thought it was his glass and drinking it without hesitation, Etienne coughed so hard that tears welled up.

“Cough, cough! Ugh…”

Finally, unable to bear it, Lucian reached out with a worried expression and patted Etienne’s back.

“Etienne, are you alright?”

“Ugh, it’s so bitter…”

Etienne, now on the verge of tears, stuck out his tongue and shook his head.

Seeing this, Lucian sighed softly and puhed his own glass far away.

He continued to gently pat Etienne’s back with one hand.

“You should have checked the glass properly.”

“Ugh…”

Etienne, still shivering from the bitter taste, looked at Lucian.

The strong flavor of the whiskey had sobered him up significantly.

How on earth did the Duke drink such a thing, and was he even human?

Questions like these filled Etienne’s mind.

Moreover, Lucian showed no signs of intoxication and had almost emptied his glass, deepening the mystery.

Maybe the true subject of study should be that man’s taste buds.

With such thoughts, Etienne looked at Lucian, literally sticking out his tongue.

“That’s a biochemical weapon. It must be… There’s no way that’s a drink meant for humans…”

He reached for a plate of snacks.

Then, remembering that Lucian hadn’t touched any of the snacks, he shook his head again.

Etienne popped a piece of chocolate into his mouth.

Although it wasn’t just sweet but also slightly bitter, it was a hundred times better than the whiskey’s harsh taste.

The sweet and rich flavor spread throughout his mouth, wiping away the traces of the strong drink.

The taste, far superior to the 800-won chocolate from the convenience store, felt almost enchanting.

“Ah, phew… I feel alive again…”

Even amidst this, Lucian took a delicate sip of his whiskey.

Seeing his figure, so elegant and perfect like a masterpiece, Etienne couldn’t help but speak up with disapproval.

“Your Grace, does that really go down your throat?”

“You get used to it after a while.”

Lucian replied as if it was nothing, but Etienne shivered, feeling the bitterness himself, and made a pained sound.

Then, after a moment, he picked up a piece of chocolate and offered it to Lucian.

“Have one, Your Grace.”

“No, you eat it.”

“Why? It’s delicious…”

“I don’t particularly like chocolate.”

“Really…?”

Why, it’s moderately sweet and delicious.

Etienne tilted his head in confusion but popped the chocolate into his mouth without saying much.

The dark-colored piece of chocolate disappeared between his red, delicate lips.

Etienne savored the bittersweet taste spreading in his mouth, letting the chocolate melt.

Lucian, who couldn’t take his eyes off Etienne, finally placed his glass on the table with a clink.

The next moment, he stood up and bent over, drawing close to Etienne in an instant.

A shadow loomed over Etienne, who was sitting idly.

Before he could even look up, his chin was grasped, lifting his head.

“Ugh…”

The fierce glint in the alpha’s eyes that he naturally faced sent a shiver down the omega’s spine.

For a moment, his heart felt cold.

An instinctive fear surged up, as if he were a prey trapped and caught.

Lucian looked down at the slightly frozen Etienne with a satisfied smile.

“And now…”

His hand, gripping Etienne’s chin, gently cupped his cheek. It was a touch that felt tender and precious, yet darkly desirous.

As his hand lightly stroked and caressed his cheek, Etienne’s heart pounded loudly.

Lucian continued to fondle Etienne with both hands, drawing so close their foreheads almost touched.

“Something sweeter caught my eye.”

And then, their lips met.

Their tongues intertwined through their parted lips.

The alpha, ignited with desire, explored the omega’s mouth as if biting into a ripe, luscious fruit.

The rich flavor of whiskey and the bittersweet taste of chocolate mingled and spread.

Lucian swallowed the other’s saliva as if it were the sweetest nectar.

The melting sweetness on his tongue seemed to be more than just the taste of chocolate.

Lucian greedily took even Etienne’s breath, holding him close.

As Etienne’s breath became more labored, he patted Lucian’s chest in a sign of struggle, but his hands were also seized.

“Ugh, mmph…!”

The alpha gripped the omega’s slender wrists with one hand, mercilessly kissing and sucking on his lips.

As the kiss deepened, the intense heat of their mingling breaths made Etienne dizzy with sensation.

“Haa, haah…”

When Lucian finally released Etienne after a long while, he found tears had spilled from Etienne’s eyes.

The omega’s tear-streaked face, panting and red-eyed, was maddeningly beautiful and provocative.

Looking down at the breathtaking sight he had created, Lucian murmured with a satisfied predator’s smile.

“Sweet.”

Then he bent down again, pressing into Etienne’s lips.

To some, the kiss was unbearably bitter and overwhelming, but to others, it was intoxicatingly sweet.

“Insanely sweet.”

Another passionate kiss ensued.

Lucian pressed Etienne hard, intent on devouring every trace of sweetness left in his mouth.

Though he didn’t care for sweet desserts like chocolate, this kind of sweetness wasn’t bad.

In fact, he might even become addicted to it.

“Etienne, you shouldn’t drink outside from now on.”

Because it’s too lewd, and too beautiful.

The alpha’s whispered words were as lewd and beautiful as the omega’s blossomed form.

Lucian pressed closer, enveloping Etienne tightly.

His hands wrapped around the slender waist, sliding down his back.

“Neither your drinking habits nor your drinking capacity.”

“Duke…?”

“I don’t want others to see.”

The alpha’s lust, flaring as he gazed at the omega’s helplessly pretty form, showed no sign of abating.

“I want to keep you as mine alone.”

“Ah… wait, just a moment…”

“By the way, Etienne.”

Lucian’s hand slowly stroked the pale, tender nape in front of him.

His touch was subtle yet insistent, overflowing with desire.

A dark possessiveness coiled in his eyes.

“Will you allow me to imprint you?”

It was a primal, intense possessiveness akin to an alpha’s instinct to imprint.

* * *